Hermetic load distributor mat

ABSTRACT

Technical Sector: Field of the construction and more specifically in reference to natural land or prepared with earthmoving machinery land cover. 
     Description of the Invention: New type of floor (mat) for load distribution and sealing of unstable soils or low bearing capacity. 
     Basically the idea is to convert the solids which are traditionally a floor for these applications in pressure vessels so as to gain the following advantages:
         During transport, the inner spaces are empty, representing a minimum weight.   The installation is done with empty internal spaces, which allows easy handling.   Once installed, the element is filled with a fluid, usually water, so that: Externally, her weight stabilizes it on the spot and, internally, enables the creation of pressures very favorably distribute the external load and yet it stiffen as to allow transmission of it to the floor in an extended area.   It has flexible joints of a stamp on the periphery of each mat. This gives the floor the airtight property of isolating the land of rain and pollution.

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The invention falls within the technical field of construction and more specifically in reference to natural land cover or prepared with earthmoving machinery which have characteristics of low bearing capacity or unstable, with the purpose of developing temporary and/or permanent activities of construction and operation of facilities, equipment and processing plants and others.

STATE OF THE ART

Currently, and especially in rainforest areas because the ground is unstable due to clay type volumetric changes and loss of consistency under the effect of the rains, when the need to cover the same with waterproofing and rigid elements adequate to provide appropriate pressure distribution in the soil and prevent contact with rainwater, in addition is intended to prevent contaminants from buildings and operation entering the ground. For these purposes, the current technique involves the installation of the following systems:

-   -   Geomembrane installed directly on the floor to obtain         waterproofness.     -   Planks of wood, floor units or plastic racks or resin reinforced         with glass fiber, commonly known as mats and crating         respectively. They are placed directly on the geomembrane         assembled together. Its function is to spread the external loads         on the ground, creating reaction bulb pressures not exceeding         the carrying capacity thereof.

The current technique, while allowing a waterproofness and load (pressure) distribution in the field, has the following disadvantages:

-   -   High transport costs due to the weight and volume of the         elements involved (geomembrane, wood, mats or crating,         installation equipment and personnel). This is especially         important in helicopter transport operations.     -   Long periods of installation and removal of the elements         involved. The serial process and technical requirements of the         geomembrane installation, wood, mats or crating, and vice versa         during disassembly, result in increased costs of personnel,         equipment and machinery.     -   Ecological problems in the case of use of wood as required         volumes are high and therefore factor of degradation of forests.

Therefore an efficient solution should have the following characteristics:

-   -   Low weight/volume.     -   Easy installation.     -   Avoid using wood.

The proposed invention is an efficient response to problems noted and as discussed in the next point, resolved one by one.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new type of floor for load distribution and sealing of unstable soils or of low bearing capacity. Basically, the idea is to convert the solid elements which are traditionally a floor unit for these applications, in pressure vessels in order to gain the following advantages:

-   -   During transport, the inner spaces are empty, therefore         representing a minimum weight.     -   The installation is done with empty internal spaces, which         allows easy handling. Each unit offers sliding systems for rapid         interconnection between them     -   Once installed, the element is filled with a fluid, usually         water, so that: Externally, it's weight stabilizes it on the         soil and, internally, enables the creation of pressures that         very favorably distribute external load. This design allows low         weight, while stiffening it to the floor as to allow         transmission of the load in an extended area.

Additionally it meets the following characteristics:

-   -   The installation process ends with the rapid assembly of         flexible joint seals on the periphery of each element         interconnected. This gives the floor the hermetizing property of         isolating the land of rain and pollution. This avoids the         problems of delays and costs related to the use of geomembranes.     -   The items are manufactured in thermoplastic with or without         reinforcing fibers, resins reinforced with glass fiber, thus         avoiding the use of wood and is made possible in the first case,         the use of recycled material. Additionally the design will allow         a long service life (multiple cycles of assembly and         disassembly).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a conventional prior art mat, along with two embodiments of the invention. Details on the FIG. 1 views follow:

EXISTING SYSTEMS Displays the Current State of the Art

-   -   Geomembrane (3) installed directly on the ground (1) for         waterproofing.     -   Wooden boards, floors or plastic racks or resin reinforced with         fiberglass (4), commonly known as mats and crating respectively.         They are placed directly on the geomembrane (3). Its function is         to spread the external load (5) in soil (1) creating a pressure         bulb of reaction (2) not exceeding the carrying capacity         thereof.

“Model 1”

Shows one of the configurations proposed, consisting of two assembled floor (mats) units of horizontal tubular type. The external load (5) is transferred to soil (1) creating a pressure bulb of reaction (2) not exceeding the carrying capacity thereof. Internally Pi creates pressure that balances the external load (5) and stiffens all. Also shows the flexible seal (8) to seal the assembly of the two units at floor (mats).

“Model 2”

Shows another proposed configuration consisting of two assembled floor (mats) units of vertical tubular type. The effects on soil and internal distribution of pressure are functionally the same as for Model 1.

Also shows the flexible seal (8) to seal the assembly of the two units at floor (mats).

FIG. 2 further shows the two embodiments of the invention, along with cross-sectional views of each embodiment. Details on the FIG. 2 views follow:

Shows schemes of the two models proposed for the manufacture of floor units (mats).

Model 1 has a body composed of horizontal tubular elements (6), the fill fluid is fed via the input manifold (10) which is detailed in Section AA, the air in the tubular elements is blown by the manifold (11) located at the top of the section to ensure complete filling with fluid for the correct conversion of the external load in internal pressure without major deformations of the outer walls of the mat (detail in Section BB).

For the same reason the water intake manifold (10) is located at the bottom of the section, which ensures air sweeping over the entrance of the fluid. After filling and venting connections are closed with caps (9).

For the assembly floor units (mats), Model 1 account on the right side with a circular section groove (14) in which is inserted and slides the cylindrical protrusion (13) follows the left side of mat. To his left side the situation is done in reverse.

For assembly by the upper and lower side has a box system (16)-Tang (15) as detailed in Section 1 and Section 2 of Plan 003.

The mat Model 2 has a body made up of vertical tubular elements (7), the other features are similar to those of Model 1.

FIG. 3 shows how multiple mats of the invention are assembled together, along with details of the structure that joins the mats together and details of the seal at the periphery of each mat. Details on the FIG. 3 views follow:

“Arrangement of Mats” Displays the Assembly Floor Units (Mats) on the Ground and the Location on the Periphery of Each Mat of Flexible Sealing Gasket (8). “Detail of Seal”

Displays the assembly of flexible sealing element (8) in channels cut into the periphery of each mat (17).

“Details of Mats Assembly, Section 1 and Section 2”

Section on the plane 002, are the box-type assembly mechanism (16)-spike (15) between mats, the holes (12) receive pins that secure the board once slipped the ear (15) in the box (16).

EXAMPLES OF PERFORMING THE INVENTION

The present invention is additionally illustrated by the following example, which is not intended to be limiting it's scope:

Example Platforms for Oil Drilling Rigs in the Jungle

The heavy rains, the soil consisting of clay, high transportation costs and maintenance of personnel and equipment, and environmental requirements required by the PAMA (Environmental Handling Adequacy Program) for each project are ideal conditions for the implementation of the invention. For the case, the material that the mats are made must be given high mechanical loads which will be exposed also must be resistant to environmental conditions (humidity and high solar radiation). Flexible joints seal must be resistant to environmental conditions and oil spills. It will use high density polyethylene (HDPE) for all elements of the mat and oil-resistant elastomers for flexible joint seal. Both materials stabilized to ultraviolet radiation (UV). The fill fluid is water, which is readily available. 

1. Floor distributor of loading and sealing of soils consisting of parallel tubular elements (6) or perpendicular (7) to its main axis, a manifold of income (10) and a vent manifold (11) with their respective caps seal (9), four peripheral elements or interconnection assembly: A circular section groove (14), a cylindrical protrusion (13), and a box system (16)-Tang (15) provided with through holes (12) for the installation of safe pins additionally has peripheral slots (17) for the installation of flexible sealing gaskets (8), characterized by the tubular elements (6) can be filled with a fluid through the entry manifold (10) and the same vented; if required, through the manifold (11), the fluid is retained within the tubular elements (6) by sealing plugs (9).
 2. Floor distributor of loading and sealing of soils according to claim 1, characterized by the tubular elements (7) can be filled with a fluid through the entry manifold (10) and the same sale, if required, through the manifold (11), the fluid is retained within the tubular elements (7) by sealing plugs (9).
 3. Floor distributor of loading and sealing of soils according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by having peripheral slots (17) for installation of the seal flexible joints (8).
 4. Floor distributor of loading and sealing of soils according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized by having flexible sealing gaskets (8) made of flexible plastic material resistant to weathering and chemical attack from oil and other substances that are managed during construction and operation of facilities. 